Port woman, 83, shows area golfers you’re never too old to shoot a hole in one

When Adeline Schmitz lined up her tee shot on the 17th hole at Hawthorne Hills Golf Course in the Town of Saukville on July 14, she was hoping to avoid a sand trap.

But the 83-year-old Port Washington woman did a lot better than just staying straight on the fairway. Her drive with a 7-wood sailed true to the flag 102 yards away, landed just in front of the green, hopped forward and rolled into the cup.

It was Schmitz’s first hole in one — and it set off a celebration almost as memorable as the accomplishment.

“I just screamed. I couldn’t believe it,” said Schmitz, who was playing in a Flight B foursome in the Wednesday Hawthorne Honeys women’s league.

Remarkably, another golfer in the same league, Vicki Kaiser, also shot an ace on the same par-3 hole June 9.

However, Schmitz’s effort was especially eye-opening because it makes her one of the oldest — if not the oldest — golfer to card a hole in one on a county course.

“I took my favorite club, teed it up and hit it high,” said Schmitz, who has been playing golf “off and on” since she was in her 30s.Schmitz wasn’t as thrilled about her 61 score for the nine-hole round. “When you get a hole in one, you should shoot better than that,” she said.

However, she and other members of her foursome — Grace Anton and Joy Hoard, both of Port Washington, and Marilynn Wilke of Cedarburg — aren’t likely to forget the hugs they shared after seeing a tee-shot sail into the cup.

“It was so exciting, a really big thrill,” Schmitz said.

In recognition of her ace, Schmitz will receive a commemorative trophy and have her name engraved on a plaque mounted in the Hawthorne Hills pro shop.

ADELINE SCHMITZ made quick work of the 17th hole at Hawthorne Hills Golf Course last week. Photo by Sam Arendt